Is it possible to score a zero on an AP exam? (2024)

FAQs

Is it possible to score a zero on an AP exam? ›

Hi there! Definitely not a weird question—it's good to understand all aspects of the AP exams, especially when stress is running high. To answer your question directly, no, you can't score a literal zero on an AP test; the scores range from 1 to 5.

You can also receive a 0 on an essay as in you tried but received no points. I've seen this more often then you'd think. However, you'd never see those scores. You'd just receive a 1 on the exam. Your school can request your essays, but they will not have any grades on them.

AP tests are scored on a scale from 1 (low) to 5 (high). Get a 4 or higher, and you may be able to earn college credit without paying college tuition!

But it's not the end of the world if you don't pass. Your class grade won't be affected, and colleges will still be impressed that you took an AP course. Colleges won't see your scores, if you don't report them.

But what is a passing AP score? The College Board considers a score of 3 or higher a passing grade. That said, some colleges require a 4 or 5 to award credit. Whether a 3 is a good AP score depends on the colleges you're applying to.

To answer your question directly, no, you can't score a literal zero on an AP test; the scores range from 1 to 5. Even if you were to leave the entire test blank, you'd still get a 1. Now, to earn that score of 1, it means the test taker demonstrates no understanding of the material.

Don't be fooled by a 2 being “possibly qualified”: there's no college grade equivalent because that score is only very rarely equivalent to course credit. To that end, then, a “failing” score is anything below a 3.

Usually, a 70 to 75 percent out of 100 translates to a 5. However, there are some exams that are exceptions to this rule of thumb. The AP Grades that are reported to students, high schools, colleges, and universities in July are on AP's five-point scale: 5: Extremely well qualified.

Many schools allow you to self-report your AP scores, so you can choose which scores you want to include on your application. In summary, don't stress too much about a single low AP score. Focus on your overall academic performance, and you'll be just fine.

AP® Score of 2

This score is usually not accepted by colleges unless there are extenuating circ*mstances. A 2 means that you may have studied hard and prepared; however, something may have gone amiss while taking your exam. Perhaps you did not truly understand the material or did not utilize it properly.

Will bad AP scores hurt me? ›

On the whole, a bad AP probably won't hurt you in and of itself, but it can be related to other concerns. A bad AP score is often correlated with a poor grade in the corresponding course, which can hurt your GPA.

The good news is that a failed exam does not affect your GPA. In addition, you can retake the AP exam the next year. To prepare, you can re-enroll in the class, study on your own, or hire a tutor who can help you tackle the more challenging subjects on the test.

The AP courses you take and the grades you receive in them matter more, as they demonstrate your course rigor. That being said, if you receive a 1 on an AP exam, it's generally advised not to report the score on your college applications. When self-reporting your scores, only include those that showcase your strengths.

AP test scores are indeed "curved," but it's more accurate to call it a "scaling process." Instead of a traditional curve that compares your performance to other students' performance, the AP exam scaling process converts your raw score (the number of points you earned through multiple-choice questions and free- ...

1) AP Physics 1

In addition, it has the lowest overall pass rate of any AP exam. Students undertake laboratory work (which they are encouraged to save, as colleges may request to see it before granting credit) while completing extensive work in seven subjects, such as kinematics, energy, and harmonic motion.

Arthimetic progression or AP means a series of numbers having a progression be it negative or positive. However if the common difference between the numbers is zero then it would not be considered an AP. It would be rather the same number repeated a couple of times in the sequence.

A score of 2 on an AP exam generally does not qualify you for college credit; most colleges award credit for scores of 3 and above, with the most selective institutions often requiring a 4 or 5. However, don't be too disheartened—a 2 doesn't mean you've failed in the eyes of admissions officers.

Can be positive or zero, but not negative.